Ferguson Valley | Adventures

A weekend 4WD trip with plenty of challenging, tight, overgrown tracks and spectacular scenery in some of the prettiest parts of Western Australia.

Day 1

We left Byford and headed up the Darling Scarp on Boyd Road to North Dandalup Dam for a quick look.

: North Dandalup Dam.

: Beautiful picnic area.

: Swimming pool below the dam.

: Vehicles at North Dandalup Dam.

: On Scarp Road after leaving North Dandalup Dam.

The drive down the Darling Scarp on Whittaker Road offers great views across the coastal plain. We crossed the South West Highway and took back roads through dairy farming country to Pinjarra. At Burekup we turned onto Henty Road. This scenic route offers fantastic views of the Ferguson Valley and across the coastal plain to the coast. Lunch was at Dardanup.

After lunch we found a tiny track through the Dardanup Conservation Park.

: Steve and Linda in the Mazda BT50, Dardanup Conservation Park.

: Nick and Fiona in the their Hilux, Dardanup Conservation Park.

: Nathan and Kirsty in their Triton, Dardanup Conservation Park.

This track brought us out onto Ironstone Road where we continued through the beautiful Ferguson Valley to Wellington Mill.

: Jarrah log at Wellington Mill.

: The Wellington Log.

: Jarrah log at Wellington Mill.

One of the State’s quirkiest tourist attractions is just down the road – Gnomesville.

: Gnomesville

: Gnomesville

: Gnomesville

From this quaint little tourist attraction we headed to the King Jarrah Tree, the largest tree in the Wellington State Forest.

: King Jarrah Tree

Leaving this magnificent tree, we followed the track through the forest and turned onto Corbett Road. A few kilometres along the road, farmland appears on the right. At the corner of this property the track leaves the fenceline and becomes tight and overgrown.

: There were some open sections.

: At least three years since any substantial traffic had been on the track – possibly longer.

: Mostly saplings.

: It was sometimes difficult to see a vehicle only five to six metres ahead.

It had been a few years since any vehicles have been along the track although it clearly was a major track at same time in the past. It opens out after about 1.7 kilometres.

We headed south to Grimwade and then Balingup.

The road from Balingup to Nannup is one of the great drives of Australia. Every sweeping bend offers a wonderful view of forests or farmland. The river on one side, tall lush slopes on the other. Popular with motorcycle and driving enthusiasts alike, the 41 kilometres between the two towns has 90 bends.

Our overnight stay was at the Riverbend Caravan Park in Nannup.

: The Blackwood River at Nannup.

: Our campsite.

: Steve, Linda and Mushy around the fire.

Day 2

We took Mowen Road out of Nannup, heading for Capel.

: In the Whicher National Park.

: Blazed tree previously used to locate position, since superseded by GPS.

Out of Boyanup through forest and farms and into the Ferguson Valley.

: In the Ferguson Valley.

Richards Road (track) ends at the Forest Discovery Centre and from this location we took on the biggest challenge of the weekend – a section of powerline track.

: Slow and steady.

: Slow crawl down the hill.

: Paul and Imogen in the Y62 finish the powerline.

: Out of the powerline track, through the stunning Ferguson Valley again and onto Harvey through back country roads.

Out of the powerline track, through the stunning Ferguson Valley again and onto Harvey through back country roads.

The Road Trip finished at Harvey. Great weather, stunning scenery, pleasant company and good four wheel driving made for a top weekend.

The Ferguson Valley Road Trip took place 12-13 September 2020.

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